tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419680653865722976.post7391866901127021547..comments2023-06-01T11:53:43.629+01:00Comments on Disaster Prevention Praxis: DROP, COVER & HOLD ON from Ana-Marie Jonesthreecentsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15522925746367314972noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419680653865722976.post-12475162379303511052008-06-19T05:03:00.000+01:002008-06-19T05:03:00.000+01:00and Ana-Marie replies:Dear Gary,Thanks very much f...and Ana-Marie replies:<BR/><BR/>Dear Gary,<BR/><BR/>Thanks very much for your kind and thoughtful comments on my posting, and thanks for your wise food for thought. I prefaced my comments with the disclaimer that the information below was written for the audiences in the United States, specifically because I don't believe one-size-fits-all. At CARD, we stand for all people having the correct information they need to be<BR/>safe and whole; for that information to be shared in sustainable, culturally appropriate ways -- by messengers chosen by the community. Our biggest rule is to share information without using fear or threat to "motivate" action.<BR/><BR/>There is one clarification I would like to offer. You wrote "You have quite strongly discounted the suggested 'triangle of life' theory in support of DCH." I do not discount 'triangle of life' in support of DCH. I believe 'triangle of life' to be dangerous and inappropriate advice for United<BR/>States audiences. Safety and preparedness advice should fit the threat, the community, the place, and the people it is intended to serve. I STRONGLY object to how the 'triangle of life' email is specifically written to discredit DCH.<BR/><BR/>As I noted in my posting, DCH has great value for much more than just<BR/>earthquakes. Given our codes, our research, and the typical contents of US buildings, I believe many more people in the US will be injured if they follow the 'triangle of life' advice in a major earthquake, AND they will<BR/>miss the various protections DCH offers in other situations, if they forsake learning and practicing DCH in favor of 'triangle of life.'<BR/><BR/>These methods should never have been positioned against each other the way they were in the 'triangle of life' email.<BR/><BR/>For the record: from what you have described, I think you have shared the 'safe haven' model in ways which will likely save lives in your community. The way 'triangle of life' has been shared in the US may cost us lives.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the richness of this discussion. With much appreciation,<BR/><BR/>Ana-Mariethreecentsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15522925746367314972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3419680653865722976.post-8670124790095835452008-06-19T05:00:00.000+01:002008-06-19T05:00:00.000+01:00Garry de la Pomerai replies: Dear Ana-Marie,firstl...Garry de la Pomerai replies: <BR/>Dear Ana-Marie,<BR/>firstly i commend you for such a comprehensive reply and appraisal of the variations of initial good practice during an earthquake. You have quite rightly outlined a variety of options, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the victims options to suggested actions from differing organisations. I would like to add small amount of 'food for thought' from experience as a Rescue Technician and as an observer to an enormous amount of information from within numerous economically developed and economically developing communities living in multiple hazardous communities.<BR/><BR/>1. You speak of codes of practice and the development of the construction methods which you suggest makes the reliance upon or indeed use of doorways and openings with lintels obsolete and infact incorrect.<BR/>A. may i add that within Asia in most communities we still dont have building codes and indeed the communities live within a variety of indigenous self designed structures using a variety maybe only available materials which often includes a mixture of semi reinforced concrete and adobe. Considering that many buildings and including schools may only contain handfulls of persons, then maybe we should not rule out the use of doorways and linteled openings. Many Schools do not not have desks / tables either. Within the Rescue community as we enter colapsed or collapsing buildings during aftershock periods, we are constantly looking for save havens. a framed lintelled opening remains high on our list. However i do not discount your comments for use within California or other code developed communities.<BR/><BR/>2. You have quite strongly discounted the suggested 'triangle of life' theory in support of DCH. A. I have always tended to work by a degree of common sense. The triangle of life in theory makes sense. Indeed i have been suggesting for several years that the triangle of life, or as i phrase it, safe havens are built into indigenous constructions. From experience within the rescue environment, i have learnt that victims survive in a variety of scenarios.Much time has been given to studying victim tracking within collapsed buildings. Patterns have emerged. and for a better phrase the 'triangle of life' reoccurs, and -*is* potentially identifiable prior to a collapse within certain types of construction and dependent on the type of collapse pattern. But more research is required to document this scientifically. So i again ask that we do not discount the theory or indeed its introduction into certain communities. Again i stress that many schools, as i visited Balakot recently and experienced, have no furniture to drop under or to hold to.<BR/><BR/>In summing up on these two points only, i would ask that we all consider that there is no perfect practice for all communities living within the numerous types of construction and multiple hazardous environments. From experience of speaking to field workers and from my Rescue Technician training and field experience it has become apparant that we must be open-minded and very carefully assess the community before we decide upon the advice we give. This is a long haul within DRR Education and practice. There are no perfect solutions. There are not simple right and wrongs. We need to work together, adapt and encourage, integrate and develop techniques and theories. If we allow ourselves to be able to do this then we potentially can save many more lives within this diverse world of ours. Again can i commend you for the tremendous information contained within your email for consideration.<BR/><BR/>regards<BR/>Garry de la Pomeraithreecentsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15522925746367314972noreply@blogger.com